The Tony Okocha-led All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State says the judiciary is the problem and cause of the protracted political crisis in Rivers State.

Okocha explained that when a matter is in the superior court, the lower court ought to hands off the matter, but he lamented that the case is different in Rivers State as he alleged that judges in Rivers State are playing games with several political cases, which, according to him, has escalated the crisis in the state.

Addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt on Monday, Okocha accused the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, of disregarding court judgments.

He said, “The law must be obeyed because if there’s no law, the society is headed to anarchy and chaos.

“The judiciary is the problem behind the political crisis in Rivers State; the judges in Rivers State are aware of the judicial processes, yet they go ahead to make pronouncements on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congresses in the state even when the superior court said otherwise. They are aware of the Federal High Court Abuja judgment on the matter.”

Recall that there are four court orders following the congresses conducted by the PDP in Rivers State. Three of the orders issued by a High Court in Rivers State stopped the congresses, while a Federal High Court order in Abuja on July 23, 2024, presided by Justice Peter Lifu, permitted the PDP to proceed with the exercise. But on January 13, 2025, the Rivers State High Court, presided by Justice Stephen Jumbo, nullified the congresses.

Speaking further, Okocha alleged that governance in Rivers State has taken a back seat despite the buoyant federal government allocations accrued to the state and the internally generated revenue in the state.

He also scored Fubara zero in agriculture, education, and housing, saying there are no vivid policies and monitoring in such sectors.

But in a swift reaction, the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joseph Johnson, said Okocha no longer exists in the state because the court has long acknowledged Emeka Bekee as the APC chairman in the state.

He urged the public to disregard any comments from him as they are irrelevant.

Johnson disclosed that the state government under Fubara is focused and doing profound work, which the masses are testifying to.

“The state government has three broad approaches geared towards making uncommon impacts in the state: Education, health, and agriculture. We are running and doing very well; in fact, we had an exco meeting on Friday, and the State Commissioner for Health announced that the state is rehabilitating 135 primary healthcare centers. This is a feat that is not common.

“Such feats are being recorded in other sectors as well, like agriculture, infrastructure, etc. In fact, by March this year, we will start another round of project commissioning in the state,” said Johnson.

Speaking further, Okocha criticised the former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, over his recent comments where he (Amaechi) stated that President Bola Tinubu will not be willing to relinquish power, stating that power is taken, not waited for.

Okocha described such statements as inciteful and capable of causing violence and anarchy.

While cautioning Amaechi to watch his words, he stated that he (Amaechi) failed to attract any developmental projects to the South-South region when he was a minister.

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He further thanked President Tinubu for the federal government’s appointment of two Rivers sons, Senator Magnus Abe and Victor Giadom, as chairman of the Great Green Wall and chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Educational Planning, respectively. He also congratulated the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on his recent award.